Written by Shelton Moss
Turks Web Broadcaster
July 7, 2021

In desperate need of a win, Jake Blair delivered the pitching performance that his team needed, tossing five shutout innings as the Harrisonburg Turks took down the Waynesboro Generals 1-0 on Tuesday evening at Kate Collins Field.

In his first start of the season, Blair made quick work of the Generals lineup, allowing only four hits while striking out three and not walking a batter. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Liam McDonnell, making his first relief appearance of the season. The southpaw from JMU yielded just one hit and struck out three Waynesboro hitters to record a 12-out save.

The game’s only run came in the fifth inning when the Turks strung together back-to-back hits off the bats of Jordan Sweeney and Fredric Walter. After a wild pitch advanced both runners up ninety feet, Bryce Safferwich rolled over a ground ball to second base, scoring Sweeney and giving the Turks a 1-0 lead that they would not relinquish.

The ninth inning was not without drama, however, as Generals catcher Connor Cino reached on a fielding error to start the home half of the frame. Following a bloop single by pinch-hitter Alejandro Figueredo, McDonnell retired Sean Ross on a pop-up to shallow right field, as second baseman  Carlos Marte had to make a difficult over-the-shoulder grab just beyond the infield dirt. Following a wild pitch, McDonell induced a fly ball off the bat of Waynesboro’s Alex Arauz, as right fielder Michael Rosario made the final putout to secure the victory, stranding runners at second and third base.

The Turks’ pitching staff recorded their third shutout of the season, while the five hits allowed were the second-fewest in a game this year.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Harrisonburg, who gained crucial ground on the second-place Generals in the Valley League South Division.

The Turks will try to get their record back to .500 as they travel to Charlottesville for a divisional clash with the TomSox at Crutchfield Park. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m.